SINGAPORE  — National Trades Union Congress deputy director Desmond Choo and engineering firm Hai Leck Holdings’ deputy chief executive Cheng Li Hui were unveiled as the two new additions to the People's Action Party's (PAP) Tampines GRC team today (Aug 22).

Earlier this month, two veteran Members of Parliament from Tampines - three-term MP Irene Ng, 51 and former National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan, 66 - announced their retirement at separate constituency events. Mr Mah, who has served six terms in office, was also previously Minister for Communications, Environment Minister and Minister of State for Trade and Industry. 

Mr Choo and Ms Cheng were introduced at a PAP press conference held at Block 842 Tampines Street 82. They round up the five-man team comprising Education Minister Heng Swee Keat, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Masagos Zulkifli and backbencher Baey Yam Keng.

Mr Choo is no stranger to politics. The 37-year-old lost to the Workers’ Party’s Yaw Shin Leong in Hougang in the 2011 General Election. He also lost to WP’s Png Eng Huat in the by-election in the same ward a year later. 

In February, Mr Choo took up the post of second advisor to grassroots organisations in Tampines Changkat. 

Likewise, Ms Cheng, 39, was made vice-chairman of the Citizen Consultative Committee in Tampines East earlier this year. 

Mr Heng, who is the anchor minister for the Tampines team, said the next phase of development for Singapore is to support ground-up initiatives and have leaders who possess ideas, have integrity, conviction and the heart to serve.

Opposition National Solidarity Party (NSP) has indicated they will be contesting in the ward. In the 2011 General Election, the PAP beat the NSP by garnering 57.2 per cent of the votes.

Asked about the party's prospects of beating NSP, Mr Heng said he takes every election seriously as it involves the lives of Singaporeans and their future.

He added that his team is united and committed to serving Tampines and Singaporeans. 

Mr Choo, who is expecting his first child in October, had previously served in the Singapore Police Force, the Ministry of Manpower and the private sector. Before his appointment as second advisor in Tampines Changkat, he spent time working the ground in Marsiling, Tampines East and Hougang constituencies.

Ms Cheng started volunteering in the PAP's Bukit Panjang branch's Meet-the-People sessions in 2003 and subsequently became a member of the Bukit Panjang Community Kitchen Co-operative. She has also worked with MP Ellen Lee in Woodlands in 2013 and MP Vikram Nair in Admiralty.